Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega to challenge Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency
File Image: Gianni Infantino is seeking re-election as FIFA president in March 2027. | Photo Credit: AFP
File Image: Gianni Infantino is seeking re-election as FIFA president in March 2027. | Photo Credit: AFP
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega has announced his intention to contest next year’s FIFA presidential election against fellow Swiss Gianni Infantino.
Vega, 55, is the first candidate to publicly declare a challenge to Infantino, who is seeking re-election in March.
Infantino has come under increasing pressure in recent months, particularly after his failed attempt in July to attract private investment into a new FIFA commercial entity involving rights connected to major competitions, including the World Cup.
Vega represented Switzerland between 1993 and 2001 and played for clubs including Cagliari, Tottenham, Celtic and Watford.
He won the League Cup with Spurs in 1999 before helping Celtic secure a domestic treble in the 2000-01 season.
In his manifesto, Vega said his campaign would focus on rebuilding trust, modernising FIFA and bringing the global football community together.
The announcement comes amid weakening support for Infantino. Last month, the Swiss Football Association withdrew its backing for another term, joining the football bodies of England, Wales, France, Serbia and several other European nations.
UEFA has also said it intends to put forward a rival candidate before the November deadline.
Infantino, 56, recently wrote to FIFA’s 211 member associations proposing an independent review of the governing body’s decision-making processes.
Vega had previously explored presidential bids in 2015, 2019 and 2022.
He argued that football belongs to its wider community of players, coaches, referees, supporters, clubs and associations rather than administrators, while criticising FIFA’s current governance and saying confidence in the organisation had been damaged.
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